Shloka 15
अर्जुन-माहात्म्य-चिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Arjuna’s Strategic Supremacy
Devanagari script
अपि चास्यन्निवाभाति निध्नन्निव धनंजय:
Transliteration
api cāsyannivābhāti nidhnanniva dhanaṃjayaḥ
Translation
持国王说道：“即便如此，檀那阇耶（阿周那）在我眼前仿佛正掷出兵刃，仿佛正击倒群敌。”
Word by Word
अपिalso; even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अस्यof him; his
अस्य:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, singular
अस्यन्throwing; casting
अस्यन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (क्षेपणे)
Formpresent active participle, masculine, nominative, singular
इवas if; like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
आभातिshines; appears
आभाति:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + भा
Formpresent, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada
निध्नन्striking; slaying
निध्नन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनि + हन्
Formpresent active participle, masculine, nominative, singular
इवas if; like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun (proper name/epithet)
Rootधनंजय
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
Speaker
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Characters & Entities
D
DhṛtarāṣṭraD
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how appearances and apprehensions shape judgment: Dhṛtarāṣṭra interprets Arjuna’s stance as already ‘throwing’ and ‘slaying,’ reflecting the moral pressure and fear surrounding impending war and the perceived inevitability of conflict.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra comments on Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), describing him as seeming ready to launch attacks and cut down enemies—an image of imminent battle and the king’s anxious reading of the situation.